Thunder Bay police board accepts anti-Indigenous racism findings; plans apology
Faced with withering criticism from two separate reviews, the police oversight board in Thunder Bay, Ont., has now accepted findings of racism within both the board and police service itself and said it planned a formal apology.
At a board meeting on Tuesday, a newly appointed administrator expressed acceptance of the findings by the Office of the Independent Police Review Director and the Ontario Civilian Police Commission.
“Having digested both reports, we acknowledge unequivocally that systemic racism exists in both the service and the board,” Tom Lockwood said. “By making this statement we want to acknowledge that the board has failed the Indigenous community.”
Lockwood, a lawyer, announced plans for a community circle early next month at which the board would “publicly acknowledge” the racism and apologize for it.